BETTENDORF, Iowa - Children at the Genesis Outpatient Pediatric Therapy Center had time to enjoy a meet and greet with an Air Combat Crew on Thursday, June 23 ahead of the Quad Cities Air Show taking place June 25-26.
Members of the F-16 Viper Demonstration Team stopped by the center in Bettendorf with fun stickers and a lot of energy. They spent the morning playing games with children, giving them a chance to take a break from their everyday routine full of doctors appointments.
"I think it gives (the kids) more of a sense of not just going to a doctors appointment, not just learning new things but being able to experience being a child and the fun things that come along with it - not just the work." said Kimberly Schwerdtfeger, a mother who has a set of four year old twins in the program.
Schwedtfeger said that her kids, who were born prematurely and are receiving speech and feeding therapy, enjoy the experiences that program provides.
"I think the smile says it all," she said. "I think its great, they love it!"
Staff Sergeant Steven Elder, the dedicated crew chief of the Viper Demonstration Team said their goal is to inspire the children.
"A lot of kids in treatment don't have the time to get to an air show, so we want them to be able to experience meeting some of the crew that bring the air show to the city that they're in." said Elder
Schwedtfeger said that experiences like these are giving kids a chance to be kids again, even in tough times.
The Quad City air show begins Saturday, June 25 around Noon at the Davenport Municipal Airport. The Gates open at 8:00 AM.
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